Krasner seeking new glory on B.C. Cup Day

VANCOUVER, British Columbia - B.C. Cup Day, on Aug. 6, is fast approaching and with it comes fond memories for trainer Cindy Krasner. As well as looking back, Krasner is looking forward to running Bad Sneakers in the $50,000 B.C. Cup Stellar's Jay for 3-year-olds.

What brings a big smile to Krasner's face is remembering the exploits of Artic Son, a horse she trained that won the B.C. Cup Classic three years in a row beginning in 1997. Artic Son also holds the track record for 1 1/8 miles at Hastings, which he set in the 1998 Classic.

"Artic Son was kind of the king of B.C. Cup for a while," Krasner said. "It was a lot of fun having him around."

As well as setting a track record in the 1998 Classic, Artic Son won four stakes races in a row, including the Premiers, and he was named the horse of the year in British Columbia. He was subsequently inducted into the B.C. Horse Racing Hall of Fame in 2006.

Artic Son was bred and owned by Amir Vahabzadeh, who also bred and owns Bad Sneakers.

"Artic Son is an uncle to Bad Sneakers," Krasner said. "We're hoping he can keep the family line going."

Link Bracelet is the dam of Artic Son and she's also the mother of Pretzel Logic, who produced Bad Sneakers. Pretzel Logic was stakes placed and earned $79,337. She also was trained by Krasner.

Bad Sneakers was a big price in the Chris Loseth Handicap on July 8, but after a very good second-place finish behind Ookashada, he'll be a much shorter price in the Stellar's Jay.

"We were really happy with the way he ran last time, and I think he can only improve off of it," Krasner said. "He's a bit of a late developer and he's still got a lot of learning to do, but he's starting to pick things up. He came out of the race great and he's training really well so we'll see what he can do."

Another horse in Krasner's barn that appears to have a bright future is the 3-year-old filly Loving Laur. Krasner has entered her in the seventh race Sunday, a 6 1/2-furlong sprint for $50,000 optional claiming fillies.

Loving Laur is a Louisiana-bred, so she isn't eligible for any of the races on B.C. Cup Day. She ran a very big race to finish third in the 1 1/16-mile Supernaturel Handicap on July 7.

"Considering it was her first time running against winners and also the first time for her going long, it was a pretty good effort," Krasner said. "Needless to say, we were very pleased with her performance."

Krasner wasn't really planning on bringing Loving Laur back in a sprint, but there didn't appear to be any other options.

"We're kind of dead in the water," she said. "Because of B.C. Cup there aren't any races for her. There is one on Aug. 4, but I really doubt if it will fill with B.C. Cup just a couple of days later. The next possible race for her is on the first of September, so we have a long wait."

In direct contrast to Bad Sneakers, Loving Laur has been a quick study.

"We've always been happy with her, and every rider that's been on her has been thrilled to death with her," Krasner said. "She's had a few issues that we've had to deal with and we're still working on some. But, she's always showed a lot of talent."

Krasner also is happy with the year she's having. She's won 10 races and she has hit the board with 32 of her 52 starters.

"We're holding our own," she said. "Way better than last year."

In 2006, Krasner won 14 races, and with the season nearing the halfway mark, she figures to easily eclipse her numbers from last year.

Lord Nelson targeting Sprint

There are a lot of similarities between the careers of Artic Son and Lord Nelson, who could make his next start in the B.C. Cup Sprint.

Both horses were relative late developers, becoming stakes winners as 4-year-olds. They also had to deal with quarter cracks throughout their careers. Artic Son's were so bad that he was retired after his 6-year-old campaign in 1999. In his four years of racing, he started 34 times, won 13 races and earned $501,049.

Lord Nelson is still racing at 10, but he has had only had 39 starts in his career, winning 16 times. He has earned close to $670,000. In his lone start this year, he finished second to Bound to be M V P by a short head in a no-conditions allowance race on June 16.

According to trainer Dino Condilenios, Lord Nelson came out of the race with a quarter crack.

"It seems fine now," said Condilenios, who sent Lord Nelson out for a five-furlong breeze in 1:02.40 seconds on July 15.

"That was a nice easy work for him," Condilenios said. "We'll really set him down for his next work, and if his feet hold up he'll run in the Sprint. If not, that could be the year for him."

Last year, Lord Nelson and Notis Otis thrilled the B.C. Cup Day crowd with a stretch-long duel in the Sprint, with Notis Otis prevailing by a neck.